The 1934 season reflected the maturation of the NFL, with a split of the league's 10 teams into Eastern and Western divisions for the first time and their "play-off" for a national title and championship trophy.[1]
A total of 60 regular season games were played during course of the 1934 season. This was followed by the single game play-off between the Eastern division champion New York Giants and the Chicago Bears, undefeated winners of the Western division. This 1934 NFL Championship Game, held December 9 in New York City, was won by the Bears, marking the first time in NFL history that a team had finished its season undefeated and untied.[2]
The Cincinnati Reds lost their first eight games — being shellacked 243–10 in the process — and then were suspended for not paying league dues.[3] The St. Louis Gunners, an independent team, played the last three games of the Reds' 1934 schedule in their stead, managing a surprising shutout victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates in the process.[3]
The top offensive team for the second consecutive year was the Chicago Bears, who racked up 3,750 yards — topping their 1933 total by more than 700.[4] Three other teams — the Boston Redskins, Detroit Lions, and Green Bay Packers — also finished with more yards gained than the 1933 high water mark.[4]
Despite the increase in yardage gained around the league, total passing totals showed a decline, with the average completion rate falling to 30.4% despite an almost equal number of attempts in 1934 compared to 1933.[4] Coaching attention to pass defense hampered the aerial attack although opening up running lanes, with the counterintuitive result that the league's increased offensive output came via the ground rather than the air.[4] Bears rookie running back Beattie Feathers set a new league record of 1,004 yards in 11 games, averaging 9.9 yards per carry en route to shattering the old league mark by nearly 300 yards.[4]
The top defensive unit of 1934 was the Detroit Lions — the freshly relocated and rebranded incarnation of the Portsmouth Spartans. The Lions shut out their first 7 opponents of the year in marching to a 10–0 record, only to lose once to the Packers and twice to the Bears to fall from contention.[3] The Lions still managed to finish the year allowing only 59 points — a niggardly 4.5 points per contest.[3]
The move of the goal posts to the goal line in an attempt to increase the number of field goals accomplished the desired aim of reducing deadlocked results, with more than 20 games decided by three points or less and no games ending in a tie.[4]
Teams
The league again included 10 teams during the 1934 season. However, the Cincinnati Reds franchise folded mid-season, with its final three games picked up by the St. Louis Gunners.
A hand-to-hand forward pass made behind the line of scrimmage that becomes incomplete (hits the ground before it is caught) is to be ruled as a fumble.
Incomplete passes no longer result in a five-yard penalty[5]
N.Y. Giants 30, Chi. Bears 13 at Polo Grounds, New York City, December 9, 1934
Statistical leaders
The 1934 season marked the third year in which official statistics were tracked and retained by the NFL.[6] Certain statistics later regarded as staples were not maintained, including interceptions, punting average, kickoff return yardage and average, and field goal percentage, among others.[3]
Halfback Beattie Feathers of the Chicago Bears rushed for more than 1,000 yards for the first time in league history.[7] This shattered the previous league record by nearly 300 yards.[7] In the table below, ‡ denotes a new NFL record.
The Ed Thorp Memorial Trophy was established as the league's award for the NFL champion, and was awarded through 1967. The host team for the NFL Championship Game would now alternate between the two divisions, with the Eastern Division champion hosting in even-numbered years, and the Western champion hosting in odd-numbered years.[9]
References
^Joe F. Carr (ed.), Official Guide of the National Football League. New York: American Sports Publishing Co., 1935; pp. 40-41.
^"Past Standings," in Joseph L. Labrum (ed.), The National Football League Record and Rules Manual, 1947. Philadelphia, PA: National Football League, 1947; pp. 84–86.
^ abcdeGary Gillette, et al. (eds.), The ESPN Pro Football Encyclopedia. First Edition. New York: Sterling Publishing, 2006; p. 1042.
^ abcdefJoe F. Carr (ed.), Official Guide of the National Football League, 1935. New York: American Sports Publishing Co., 1935; pp. 43-44.
^Gillette, et al. (eds.), The ESPN Pro Football Encyclopedia. First Edition. New York: Sterling Publishing, 2006; p. 1040.
^ abNed Irish, "National Football League Statistics," in Joe F. Carr (ed.) Official Guide of the National Football League 1935. New York: American Sports Publishing Co., 1935; pp. 43–44.
